Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-07-02

most lnslgnlncanS opJecCs ootn III
Nature and in Art, and to make
them our instruments IN developing
the perceptive and receptive powers
of the child.
We have learned also how the
principle of "learning by doing"
may be carried from the lower to the
higher grades, to the advantage Of
the pupils; for instance-take the
paper-tolding. The children are told
that strict adherence to rules is ne
cessary to insure success.
Could days and weeks of lectur-
ing, produce as lasting and as sensi-
BILE an effect on them as when those
who tail to follow implicitly the di-
rections given, meet only with dis
appointment in finding it impossible
to produce the beautiful form, from
their carelessly creased and folded
papers2 on the other hand, note the
delight of the Fortunate possessors of
the symmetrical figure; one would
naturally be disposed to do the work
for the careless ones, but that would
be doing them positive injury. Let
them learn from experience that Ia
Dor and self-exertion alone bring
happiness. Teach the schild to
love the good, and beautiful, give
him occupation and he would
far rather have the work of his own
hands, though necessarily simple,
than the most elaborate production
of another; the latter he could not
understand and so his only desire
would be to destroy, that he might
investigate.
"Ordc- is Heavens first law and
so we notice it in the Kindergarten
There is no order which is more
than superficial unless it be the free
glad obedience Of the child to law,
which he perceives to be creative be-
cause it enables him to do something
real.
The teacher also carefully watches
the habits of the pupils, taking care
that the evil be corrected. By law
of life children must have an outlet
for their activities, and indeed this
applies to children of a larger
growth, for "Satan finds work for
idle hands to do" and SO it remains
for the Teacher, whether the parent
at home or she to whom the child is
daily intrusted, to awaken the high
er and purer aspirations of the soul
and 30 direct the mind of the child
that he will choose for himself only
those activities which are uplifting
and ennobling.
Accustom a child to being govern
ed in his daily work and. play, by a
few simple laws of order and regu-
larity of thought, and you will start
him in life with treasure which no
fortune could buy. When tempted
to commit an evil act, he will find it
much easier to resist, than will one
who has never learned the funda-
mental law Of life-obedience.
An urgent appeal might be made
for introducing kindergarten proper
in the public schools. AS children
are compelled to leave school at an
early age, in order to assist their
parents, it would be gain to the
child "a gain which must necessarily
affect the community, if he could en-
joy two years of kindergarten train
ing between the ages of four and
six-when his time is of no use to
anyone; where he would be encour-
aged to make use of his Unborn in
stinct of activity, and by delightful
occupation find pleasure ever after
in useful occupation.
The time will come, we hope, when
kindergarten shall be considered
necessity and then the parents and
friends will not be slow in discov-
ering the effect that such training
has upon the health and spirits of
the child-which will be shown in
its love ofschool, fondness for study,
cheerful obedience and due respect
to the discipline which is always
found in we'll ordered home.